With your new love Koi Sushi Bar and Lounge
Where: 3350 Dowlen Road, Beaumont Info: (409) 347-8202
I prefer to see love fostered in an environment that isn’t a pressure cooker of expectations and past rejection. Take the pressure off by letting Koi take care of the romance.

With its lounge atmosphere, selection of fine wines and menu full of conversation starters, half your work is done for you.

Awkward pause? Order eel, octopus, or quail egg sushi — anything you’ve never tried before — and discuss the results.

With your best friends Riverside Tavern
Where: 234 Grigsby Avenue, Port Neches Info: (409) 722-9039
If you reject the premise that Valentine’s Day (or a Friday night, for that matter) should be shared with a significant other, why not head out to Riverside Tavern with a group of friends? Bring a giant heart-shaped cookie to share over some cold beer, breaking to play pool and enjoy the fact you don’t have to stand outside to smoke.

At the end of a successful night spent with your real loves (beer and buddies, duh), sign a dollar bill and staple it to the bar with the knowledge that you’re in good company. Many of those dollars have lasted through a hurricane.

Good Times before its recent renovation. Tammy McKinley/cat5

With your long-term squeeze Good Times
Where: 3801 Texas 73, Port Arthur Info: (409) 963-3100
This newly renovated, karaoke-lovin’ bar is the perfect way to add a little sizzle to a relationship that feels on track to silent stares over breadsticks at Olive Garden.

Sing a love song, or sing the most inappropriate song — whatever will keep your partner entertained. The couple that sings together, stays together, so long as you aren’t Sonny and Cher. Bonus points if you dress like a famous couple and sing your song of choice with accompanying dance moves.

You can bet you’ll walk arm-in-arm to the car at the end of the night with the perfect story to tell at your wedding, plus a guaranteed first dance song.

When in doubt, pick The Beatles. Show me one girl who wouldn’t swoon after being sung, “And I Love Her” and I’ll show you a girl who is really a fembot.

The 'Doke. Guiseppe Barranco/cat5

With yourself Okee Dokee’s
Where: 7665 College St., Beaumont Info: (409) 861-2998
Okee Dokee’s was the first dive bar in Beaumont that captured my heart, and it is the best way to spend an evening getting back in touch with the best person in your life: you.

All joking aside, if you can’t love yourself, then you can’t love another person. And you certainly can’t love a boy who asks you out on a group date with 30 minutes notice, via text, or a girl who thinks reciting a long list of your failures is effective communication.

Okee Dokee’s is all dive atmosphere, laid back with an owner awesomely nicknamed “Taco.” Treat yourself to something top shelf and don’t be afraid to meet a stranger, especially if they offer to buy.